As part of the design/build team with general contractor T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., domusstudio architecture provided planning and design services for the 25,866-square-foot center. Named for Patrick Wade, a husband, father and American war hero who died in Iraq in 2007, the new facility includes security measures that assure the safety of military families as well as LEED Gold sustainability.

Beneath its red clay tile roof, the single-story CDC has 17 classrooms, a reception area, kitchen, laundry room and administrative offices. The main wall of the lobby is dominated by two large-screen televisions tuned to activity from classrooms and playgrounds throughout the facility. Each classroom was designed to provide good visibility for security, while also maintaining privacy for children’s restrooms.

Other security aspects of the building’s design, per the military’s minimum antiterrorism standards, include: adequate separation of the building and the parking lot; parking lot restrictions pertaining to parking and circulation; low-level landscaping and playground equipment that discourages any type of concealment within 33 feet of the building; progressive collapse avoidance building techniques; specific utility installation and distribution; and others.

“At domusstudio we understand completely the military’s critical need for a child development center designed so that Navy personnel can do their jobs knowing their loved ones at home are kept safe,” said domusstudio architecture principal John Pyjar.

The new Patrick Wade CDC has several sustainable features that contribute to the building’s eligibility for Gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. These include: low water landscaping with smart controller, water-saving fixtures, natural day lighting, and energy efficient lights and appliances. In addition, more than 80 percent of construction debris was diverted to recycling.

The Patrick Wade CDC is the third Navy design/build project for domusstudio architecture with T.B. Penick, and their fourth CDC is now under construction at Camp Pendleton.

Founded in 1986 as Dominy + Associates, domusstudio architecture is a San Diego architectural design firm specializing in sacred facilities, fire stations, educational buildings, senior housing and custom residential projects. For more information about projects and services, call 619-692-9393.

Just over a year ago we were one of two architecture firms vying for the opportunity to renovate and modernize the KPBS studios on the San Diego State University campus. While we regret we didn’t get the job then, our research and design efforts are paying off today in the reworking of our own studio space.

The nonprofit public radio station’s goals included sustainability and a more efficient and collaborative workspace. These are among the key factors in domusstudio’s modernization as well.

Here are a few of the ways our redesign efforts cross over with our design proposal for KPBS.

Nearly completed, the domusstudio redesign has resulted in a more collaborative workspace as we occupy half the square footage previously needed, thereby bringing everyone closer together.

We went paperless in order to be more sustainable, as well as to allow smaller workspaces for everyone. The computer screen is the new “desktop.”

Another green design tactic we have utilized is to remove all window and skylight coverings in order to take advantage of our space’s abundant natural daylight.

Custom-built workstations (we did this ourselves) feature minimal steel frames and 100 percent recycled paper work surfaces. The product we used is called Paperstone. We simply finished it with linseed oil.

Heavy, 44-ounce carpet by Bentley Prince Street, which is an industry leader in responsible carpet manufacturing regarding environmental issues, adds another sustainable element to the redesign. The carpet is an Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) as certified by Scientific Certification Systems – a third party certifier of environmental claims. Along with the heavy ounce weight, the carpet has an attached cushion back, together providing good sound attenuation. Our carpet mill local representative is GCThomas.

The worry with an open office space is lack of privacy and sound attenuation. The heavyweight carpet absorbs a lot of the noise, and an unexpected result of our office without barriers is that everyone started speaking more softly. Everyone started talking less, too, which leads to better productivity. It’s a very successful case study and wonderful work environment.

The result has been very successful for us. It totally works. The formula we devised based on KPBS’ desire for a brand new collaborate workspace utilizing less square footage (less operating cost), is something we look forward to incorporating again, maybe even at SDSU.

The Navy’s newest childcare center opened recently in Point Loma, designed per military guidelines by domusstudio architecture to feel more like a home than an institution.

As part of the design/build team with general contractor T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc., domusstudio architecture provided planning and design services for the 25,866-square-foot Patrick Wade Child Development Center (CDC). Named for an American war hero who died in Iraq in 2007, the new facility is state-of-the-art but also “home-like” for 72 employees and 218 children ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

“The Navy’s guidelines call for us to design through the eyes of a child,” said John Pyjar of domusstudio architecture. “We are encouraged to avoid an institutional approach and to create an appropriate, well thought out and attractive environment. The space should be inviting and feel like home.

The lobby of the new CDC exhibits this intention with an accessible, child-size scale and subtle earth tones that encourage creativity. The entry’s gabled ceiling with paper lantern-like lamps hanging at varied lengths accentuates a family room feeling. Nature-inspired artwork also lends to the calming ambience of the reception area.

Founded in 1986 as Dominy + Associates, domusstudio architecture is a San Diego architectural design firm specializing in sacred facilities, fire stations, educational buildings, senior housing and custom residential projects. For more information about projects and services, call 619-692-9393 or fill out our contact form here.

One highlight of the project is a new coffee kiosk in the central courtyard plaza that will augment the outdoor fellowship and gatherings for the campus.

Another feature of the new Parish Center is the 4,630-square-foot second-story social hall. Showcasing high-volume wood-beamed ceilings, the venue will have the flexibility to serve as a conference facility – with dual large format presentation screens and advanced audio-visual features – or a social event setting, with dance floor, stage, dinner seating for 300-plus and kitchen facilities to service such events. Overlooking the campus’ outdoor courtyard plaza, the social hall can expand into a covered patio for overflow seating and gatherings.

The lower level of the new building includes a series of meeting rooms, a youth room and offices to serve the growing sacred education program and other ministries.

As with all our church architecture projects, St. Elizabeth’s new Parish Center is designed to express and evoke an appropriate ethereal connection that is something beyond four walls and a roof. We feel this even in the chaos of construction. See what you think.

Sustainable design and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) have been getting a lot of press lately. This is the second in a series of articles intended to give building owners an overview of the sustainable design features which are the most practical and effective in the long-term reduction of building operating expenses and energy consumption as well as features that contribute to the long-term “livability” of buildings.

When building a new structure, what is the single most sustainable consideration that has the most cost impact? I would say the answer would simply be to not build a new building. Adaptive reuse, remodel and renovation of an existing building and site will have the least environmental impact and potentially save the most time and money.

There are many sustainable factors that building reuse will affect.

1. Preservation of virgin land and avoiding potential environmental and habitat developmental impacts of greenfield sites.

2. Reusing structural components minimizes the consumption of the natural resources and energy used to make steel, concrete or lumber products. Also, these components are generally some of the heaviest items that go into a new building, therefore requiring the most freight costs and energy to ship.

3. The use of existing developed sites will often require less regulatory review time, permit costs and development impact fees. However, existing sites may still need to be brought up to current ADA/accessibility, energy and storm-water quantity and quality control requirements.

4. Existing developed sites usually already have the needed infrastructure, avoiding costly utility extensions and public improvements.

5. Reuse and renovation of existing buildings extend their life, minimizing impacts to landfills due to building demolition.

6. The reuse of existing construction materials minimize the off-gassing created by new construction products, contributing to the long-term well-being of the occupants.

For a number of clients, we have successfully given facelifts to existing buildings that have outlived their usefulness and function and transformed them into new energy efficient, aesthetic and functional spaces. Minor additions or alterations to existing structures can create a sense of entry, bring in natural light, or create a better sense of indoor/outdoor relationships.

At Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene, we converted an existing gymnasium into a contemporary worship space. While the “bones” of the building shell were maintained, the mechanical units, light fixtures and windows have been replaced with high efficient systems. The relatively inexpensive acoustic clouds give an aesthetic focus to the space, transforming it from a simple box to a dynamic space with rhythm and visual movement.

If you are looking for an existing building to purchase or lease, it is helpful to enlist an architect early in the process to help you evaluate whether it will meet your program needs as well as give you some insight into potential design options. An architect will also be helpful in giving you an idea of what upgrades may be required to meet current codes, so you can factor those into your budget.

While re-using an existing building can be a “green” design solution, long-term function must also be evaluated. We have often provided master planning services for campuses where we recommended that some existing buildings be relocated or removed in order to develop proper site circulation, create more outdoor people spaces, or remove vehicular and pedestrian conflicts. Short-term savings must be weighed against the long-term livability and function.

With creativity and an aesthetic design sense, an architect that understands your needs and building program can bring value to an end product that will meet and hopefully exceed your expectations.

Check out some photos of our new Parish Hall at St. Therese of Carmel in San Diego’s Carmel Valley, just recently dedicated. It’s getting great reviews, and as you will see, it works equally well for performances, dinners, and Parish School sports. The special carpet we commissioned is key; you can bounce a basketball as if the floor is wood.

Most of the time, churches that build gyms for youth programs then have their church dinners “in the gym.” My own church many years ago built a dinner hall that won’t work for sports at all. Not too cool for the youth. More formal churches struggle to allow plays, school-type events or videos in their Sanctuaries up on the chancel space.

This space at St. Therese does the triple duty (dinners, stage performances, sports) without any of the functions feeling terribly compromised. Everyone seems happy, especially with the amount of money saved. In fact, scheduling becomes the only problem.

Glenn Thomas at GCThomas pulled this together for us. His beautiful and affordable flooring was a macro mural design (that is, each roll is butted and stretched next to the other to create a mural design) which is possible on a tapistron machine.

We were concerned that the court lines wouldn’t line up with such big rolls and the required tolerances, but they were within a half inch when installed. ”B Carpet” is an all loop, low profile dense carpet represented in San Diego by Glenn. Visit his website at www.gcthomas.com.